AFM / Sears Point Raceway
07/11 - 07/12/98

Event Baseline Tech Info

Race Times / Results:

Saturday AFM Practice - Notes:

The trip up was fun. The motorhome pulled the trailer fine, though really slowly up the long grades. We blew the brake light fuse just after the Grapevine, but didn't notice it until we stopped for the night about four hours later. The hitch on the motorhome was a bit too high for the trailer, so we were tail heavy and the trailer swayed a lot, especially in the strong cross winds coming through central California.

The huge frontal glass area of the windshield turned the motorhome into a green house. It was hot and humid after we pulled down the backside of the Grapevine. We ran both the rooftop and dash air conditioners and barely managed to keep cool.

We stopped off and saw Doug Hockaday at Penske Racing Shocks in Lodi. Penske is participating in a promotion we've put together for this month's Willow Springs race weekend. We got the low-down on their new progressive, speed sensitive shock valve and a new jet for the rebound circuit on our shocks.

We got into Sears Point at 3:00pm on Friday and set up camp.

Last month we worked on learning the track, suspension set up, and brake points. This month was gearing. Curt Jordan suggested 4% shorter gearing. We ran 15/46 last month (3.07), we decided to try 14/45 (3.21) this month. The bike accelerated like a rocket. Our problem was then deciding when and where to shift. The gearing change forced us to shift a lot more. We worked at trying to keep the revs in the power band of 10.5 / 11k and up. We had that pretty much sorted out by lunch, then worked on getting our times down. I pulled a best of 1.57.04 and Steve did a 1.59.27, both were about 1.5 seconds faster than our best times from last month.

The temperature was in the high 60's / low 70's all day - beautiful weather. We put in four practice sessions then changed to new Dunlop 207GPs for Sunday's races.

Sunday AFM Races - Notes:

The weather changed Sunday to hot (90f) and humid. Steve and I went out for our practice session and were drenched with sweat half-way through. It was going to be a tough day! We were running races #6 (Formula Pacific), #8 (600 Super Bike), and #10 (Formula I) with just about enough time between each to gas the bikes, clean the helmets, drink a lot of water and pee.

Irregardless of where we started each race, Steve & I ended up racing each other. He took me for two of three races and set the fastest lap time of a 1.55.46 to my 1.55.47. I guess we were putting on a good show. One of the announcers was commenting on our racing as I pulled into the pits after the first race. That was cool.

We pulled decent starts in all races - not as good as last month, but they were OK. The shorter gearing made me hesitant to really crank the throttle off the line and chance a wheelie. In and out of T4 and T7 continued to be my best passing zones. Steve's was in T11 - the hairpin before the chicane coming onto the front straight. He got past me there in every race.

Steve turned out the best race performance between the two of us. He had a hard time getting past me, but once there, he'd pull a good lead that I was able to better only once.

We ran the Formula Pacific race more for the track time than anything else. Formula Pacific is a true no-holds-barred, unlimited modifications class. We're not close (yet) to the race winning pace of 1.47/48, but it was a good opportunity to pick up tips from the fast guys.

The last race of the day was the toughest. The heat and humidity was killing me and I was dragging. Steve got past me in T11 half-way through the race. Keeping him in sight kept me going. I had pulled back up to his rear tire on the last lap and planned a late-break outside pass into T7. As I braced for the braking my right arm locked and I couldn't keel the bike over for the turn. I shot wide and lost my drive while Steve got away.

Our goal for the weekend was to place in the top 20. I was very pleased with a top 10 and top 15 for me, a top 10 and top 20 for Steve. The gearing change really helped our times, along with more time on the track. I managed to chop 3 seconds off my best time from last month, Steve was a whopping 5.5 seconds faster.

Next round - WSMC action at Willow Springs July 17 - 19.

Bob.

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